Owners cut off from camps wait for word on winterization run

CN Rail is asking for more details before making a decision to run a limited “winterization train,” to camps and lodges along the Algoma Central Railway, says the chair of the ACR working group.

“It’s a lot like leasing a bus, you just have to give them the terms of what they need to do,” said Tom Dodds, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation CEO, who also chairs the working group. 

The working group will have to determine how many people will take the winterization train, how far they need to go down the line and how long they will need to complete the work on their camps and lodges.

Dodds said he discussed the winterization train with CN officials during a recent meeting.

He said paying for the winterization train will be complicated, because there is no agreement in place between the city and CN in terms of doling out subsidy money from the federal government’s Remote Rail Passenger Program.

“It really boils down to how much money and what is the obligation for that money?” said Dodds.

Negotiations are continuing with CN in terms of finding a third-party operator to resume operation of ACR passenger rail service.

Dodds said three companies have come forward with proposals to to operate the service.

Because the federal government has stated subsidy money must flow through the city, Dodds said this time around it isn’t just a case of CN choosing the operator they want.

“Right now we have three candidates in front of us. If there are others out there looming around with their bright ideas and having sidebar conversations with CN, that’s fine. But in terms of our process they have to come (to us) through the front door first,” said Dodds.

“They have to come to our dance,” he adds.

He notes CN will still have final authority over the selection.

The three candidates are currently in the process of signing non-disclosure agreements with CN, which will allow them to receive more information prior to to preparing their final proposals.

Two companies who have submitted proposals are US-based, the third is Canadian.

The companies will be invited to the Sault in early October before being asked to submit their final proposals shortly thereafter.

“In this instance as a working group we will be looking at these and then making a recommendation to council,” said Dodds.

The Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains, — a member group within the working group — have announced they will hold a special town hall meeting September 30 in the Plummer Room of the Civic Centre to discuss the possibility of a winterization train.

(FILE PHOTO: Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)